Loneliness can have an impact on anybody’s life, but at Trinity Homecare, we want to do everything we can to help enrich the lifestyles of those who feel alone.
Why is loneliness a problem?
Loneliness can affect us all at some stage, and as many of us may have experienced over the current pandemic, it can have a considerable impact on your overall health and wellbeing.
As human beings, we often crave social interaction from others in order to feel content, whole and happy. Loneliness and a lack of human interaction can increase the risk of some physical and mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system, so having a support network around us can benefit both our mental and physical health.
Many of us have an abundance of people we can turn to, such as family, friends, colleagues and more. But just imagine you didn’t have a list of people that can help you. Do we take these people for granted?
Loneliness in old age
Although all of us can face loneliness in some stage of our lives, and even more so with the current pandemic, it’s a growing concern for the elderly.
Loneliness in old age is a growing concern for a number of reasons. As we grow older into our elderly years our chances of facing mental or physical illness pose a greater threat to our overall health.
As family members, friends, and loved ones can potentially move on, sometimes the elderly are left completely alone with nobody to turn to on a regular basis. That’s where we want to help, through our outstanding rated companionship services.
Can loneliness in the elderly lead to serious conditions?
Loneliness in elderly age groups is especially common as older age brackets are vulnerable to losing regular human interaction, this can lead to a number of health risks for specific conditions. Loneliness can lead to serious conditions in various forms of cardiovascular disease, accelerated brain ageing, insomnia, and even dementia, making it really important for us to come together to be there for those who are lonely, whenever they need us.
Why is loneliness common in the elderly?
Loneliness in old age is especially common as elderly lonely people are vulnerable to spending longer periods of time in social isolation, due to various factors such as retirement, illness, and being less mobile.
Social isolation has become easier for us all to relate to as we have experienced the impact of living a restricted lifestyle within the same walls each day. Although it feels like a lifetime, in reality, it’s been a short period of time in comparison to others. There are elderly lonely people that are currently living alone that have experienced the feelings you may be feeling for a substantially longer period of time – with serious impacts on their mental and physical health.
According to Age UK, more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone. The same research proved that over half of the over-75s go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. This is why we must take action together to combat loneliness as it can have serious negative effects on elderly lonely individuals.
How do you help an elderly person with loneliness?
It’s extremely common that elderly people will feel lonely, but there are places that they can turn to. You can help elderly lonely people find the help they need to enrich their lifestyle once again and help feel happy. Just knowing someone cares is often enough to help loneliness in elderly people – and you could make all the difference just by reaching out.
Age UK recommends you do the following to help combat loneliness in elderly people.
Be there for those that you know so they are aware that someone cares. This includes asking how someone is feeling, listening and comforting the elderly lonely person and asking if there is anything you can do to help.
With the current pandemic, for the elderly in particular, it’s unsafe to be coming into regular contact with those around you. Reaching out to an elderly loved one via telephone, Zoom call or in any way you wish can help them to feel less alone under the current circumstances whilst keeping them safe in their home.
Be patient and offer gentle reassurance. When somebody is lonely, they may get irritable and feel misunderstood. Try to recognise this if your efforts are ever going unnoticed.
Encourage and support the elderly lonely individual so they are aware it’s possible to get the right help. Making new social connections is entirely possible, both naturally and through services designed to tackle loneliness – such as Trinity’s Companionship Care services.
Companionship care – elderly loneliness solutions for better health
The Trinity Homecare team have provided for elderly people for over 25 years, providing time, care and heartfelt support for those who rely on us to live the life they love. We are proud to offer a range of home care services for various different conditions across both visiting and live-in care.
We are here to support life’s journeys, and sometimes, it’s the littlest things that can make a difference. We offer ‘outstanding’ rated Companionship Care Services that help tackle loneliness in old age. This can be flexible to your exact desires and can range from as little to as often as you would like.
For example, if you or your loved one want someone to pop in once in a while to provide company, care and conversation – companionship care is perfect for you. Loneliness in elderly people can also be combated by doing the things they love. We all have hobbies and interests, and maintaining these later in life can be key to a healthy and happy mindset.
What can companionship provide?
- Companionship and conversation
- Help walking the dog
- Company when visiting the library
- Help buying books, magazines and newspapers
- Someone to take you to plays, concerts and the cinema
- Someone to accompany you for lunch, dinner, morning or afternoon tea
- Help to arrange appointments
- Help visiting the hairdressers
- A friend to play cards, chess, and other favourite games
- Help preparing and cooking meals
- Help around the house
- Accompanying you to the doctor and other hospital appointments
- Helping prepare shopping lists and provide company on trips to the shops
- A new lease of life!
Trinity’s Companionship Care services unearth a number of health benefits, including greater wellbeing, less loneliness and isolation, engaging conversation, maintaining active interests and role within the community, building a relationship, peace of mind for family members…the list goes on.
Trinity Homecare’s day-to-day companionship service is available across these locations. The minimum duration of a visit is 30 minutes, and you can book as many or as few weekly visits as you wish to do as much or as little as you would like together.
Contact us today
If you feel that Trinity Homecare is right for you, then contact a friendly member of our team today to discuss your flexible options in beating loneliness. We’re personal, we’re trusted and we’re caring.
